Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-06-14
THE USE OF ARSENIC.
SOME CAUSES AND EFFECTS or
A DEADLY VICE.

Peasants Of Europe-The Excuses
Made by the Devotees or Arsenic-Other
Poisons Used.
It is not generally known to what an
alarming extent poison eating is practiced
In this country as wen as In Europe In
some of the districs of lower Austria, and
In Styria, especially In the mountainous
parts, there prevails the habit of eating
arsenic. The peasantry are particularly
given to it. They obtain 1t under the
name OF hedri, from travelling hucksters
and gatherers Of herbs, who, on their
part, procure 1t from the glass blowers or
from the low doctors or mountebanks.
The arsenic eater has twofold aim In
the dangerous enjoyment, one of which is
the desire to obtain fresh, healthy APP
pearance and acquire certain degree Of
embonpoint, and on this account lads and
lassies In the European countries employ
the agent that they may become moro
attractive to each other, and their en-
deavors are attended with astonishing re-
suits, for the poison eaters are, generally
speaking, distinguished by q fresh COM
plexion, and have the appearance Of cxu-
berant health. Not long since farm
and healthy, wished to make herself moro
attractive to her lover, and in order to
obtain more pleasing exterior, swal-
lowed every week several doses of ar
senic The desired result was obtained.
In few months she was quite according
to her lovers taste. In order to increase
the effect she increased the dose OF ar
senic, and fell victim to her vanity. She
Il t.f,
DEATHS FROM ARSENIC
The number Of deaths in consequence of
the immoderate enjoyment of arsenic is
not inconsiderable, especially among the
young. Whether it arises from fear Of
the law, which forbids the unauthorized
possession of arsenic, or whether it be
that an inner voice proclaims to him his
sin, the arsenic eater always conceals as
much possible the use of it. The Euro,
pean peasants say they. eat it to make
themselves "better winded "-that is, to
make the respiration easier when ascend
ing the mountains. Whenever they have
far to go and to mount a considerable
height they take minute morsel Of
arsenic and allow it to gradually dissolve
In the mouth. They say the effect is sur
prising, and they ascend with ease heights
which otherwise they could climb only
with distress to the chest.
The dose with which the poison eaters
begin consists of rather less than half a
grain, and then the quantity is increased
according to the effect produced. re-
Gently learned of q man Of 60 years who
at present takes at every dose piece
about the weight of four grains. For
forty years he has practiced the habit,
which he inherited from his father, and
he, in all probability, will bequeath the
same to his children. 1t is stated that
neither In these nor in other poison eaters
is there the least trace of an arsenic
cachexy discernible, and that the symp-
toms of chronic arsenical poisoning
never show themselves In individuals who
adapt the dose to their constitution, even
though that dose should be considerable,
but when from inability to obtain the acid
or other cause the perilous indulgence Is
stopped, there appear symptoms of illness
which have the closest resemblance to
those produced BY arsenic poisoning These
symptoms consist principally in u feeling
Of general discomfort, Attended by per-
feet indifference to all surrounding per-
SONS and things, great personal anxiety,
and various distressing sensations arising
from the digestive organs, lack OF APP
petite, constant feeling that the stomach
Is overloaded In the morning, burning
from the pylorus to the throat, pains IN
the stomach and particularly great dim
Guilty In. breathing For all these symp-
toms, there Is but one remedy--a return
to the use of arsenic.
OTHER POIsONs USED.
Poison eating among the inhabitants Of